NORTHWEST PASSAGE: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN Winding your way through the icy channels of the legendary Northwest Passage is history brought to life. On this compelling 17-day journey aboard the game-changing new vessel Ultramarine, passengers retrace the steps of the intrepid Franklin Expedition, which left the shores of England in 1845 in search of the last unexplored section of the Northwest Passage--only to become permanently icebound. Its discovery more than a century and a half later was a much-celebrated moment in polar history. On Ultramarine, guests benefit from two twin-engine helicopters that will provide spectacular aerial views of the Arctic landscape, the most extensive portfolio of adventure options in the industry, more outdoor wildlife viewing spaces than any other expedition ship its size, and 20 quick-launching Zodiacs to get you closer to ancient glaciers, dramatic fjords and towering icebergs. Explore colorful Greenlandic villages, and shop for traditional Inuit handicrafts. Hike the endless Arctic backdrop and marvel at the vast, colorful tundra. Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive and majestic creatures that make their home in this wilderness, such as whales, walrus, muskoxen and polar bears. Come aboard Ultramarine, follow in the footsteps of Franklin's legendary Arctic voyage, and return home with memories to last a lifetime. MANDATORY TRANSFER PACKAGE INCLUDES: One night's pre-expedition airport hotel accommodation in Toronto 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Group transfer from the Toronto hotel to the airport fascinated legendary explorers of long ago. Designed to give Charter flight from Toronto to Resolute polar adventurers unprecedented access to the Group transfer from the Resolute airport to the ship on hardest-to-reach places on the planet--and equipped with two embarkation day onboard twin-engine helicopters for unparalleled access to Group transfer from the ship to the Kangerlussuaq airport on areas only Quark Expeditions can bring you--this one-of-a-kind disembarkation day ship, in its inaugural year, will take you beyond the familiar in Charter flight from Kangerlussuaq to Toronto polar exploration. Throughout your journey, your Expedition One night's post-expedition airport hotel accommodation in Team will keep an eye toward immersing you in the best the Toronto Arctic has to offer at the top of the world. Locals call Maniitsoq the Venice of Greenland, as it's situated in an archipelago ITINERARY intersected by natural canals. Soaring, snow-capped mountains Day 1 — Arrive in Toronto, Canada surround the small, rocky town, whose name means "the uneven place." Playful humpback whales spend summer in the waters around here. The Greenlandic capital of Nuuk is a haven Your Arctic expedition begins in Toronto. Explore this vibrant city for history and culture lovers. Stroll down to the waterfront to on your own before spending the night at your well-appointed see the Hans Egede Church and Hans Egede statue, named for hotel. the missionary who established the settlement in 1728. Marvel at the famous remains of 500-year-old fully dressed mummies, Day 2 — Fly to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland and Embark discovered under a rock outcrop in 1972 by two brothers out hunting, at the Greenland National Museum. The Nuuk Art Museum and Katuaq Culture Centre are also worth visiting. After breakfast, board your charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, a small seaside community that's your gateway to Greenland. Day 5 — At Sea Enjoy your first Zodiac ride as you're transferred from shore to ship. Out on deck, take in your new surroundings before you set sail on your Arctic adventure. Say goodbye to Greenland's shores as you traverse the Davis Strait in pursuit of the Canadian Arctic. Presentations by Days 3 and 4 — Exploring West Greenland on-board experts will prepare you for the adventures that lie ahead. Cruising around the remote regions of Greenland and the Days 6 to 15 — Exploring Canada's High Arctic Canadian Arctic aboard Ultramarine, the newest ship in our fleet, you'll navigate the same icy inlets, channels and bays that 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Visit towering fjords, historical sites and traditional Inuit exploring this traditional Inuit community that's surrounded by communities as you follow in the footsteps of famous explorers scenic mountains, fjords, glaciers and icebergs. The area from long ago in the Canadian High Arctic. The picturesque Inuit around Lancaster Sound affords several hiking opportunities. At hamlet of Pangnirtung, nicknamed the Switzerland of the Arctic, Dundas Harbour, on Devon Island, you'll visit an abandoned is nestled beneath the jagged peaks of Mount Duval. An artist's beachside outpost of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At hub, Pang is renowned for its traditional Inuit arts and crafts, nearby Croker Bay, cruise in a Zodiac (at a safe distance) along especially lithographs and intricate tapestries. At the Uqqurmiut the face of an actively calving glacier. Your Expedition Team will Centre for Arts & Crafts, watch craftspeople in the tapestry also keep its eyes peeled for the muskoxen and walrus that are studio and pick up a limited-edition print. A must for visitors, a known to visit the bay. A hike to a nearby archaeological site is colorful Pang hat will keep you warm during the remainder of another possible excursion. Farther west, some of the best your Arctic voyage. You'll also visit nearby Kekerten, an ancient Thule remains in the Arctic are at Radstock Bay, beside uninhabited island that was a major whaling destination in the the soaring Caswell Towers, a polar bear observation site. 1800s. At the southern tip of the Cumberland Sound, Cape Exploring the area, you'll gain insight into how these pre-Inuit Mercy was named by British explorer John Davis (yes, he of the people lived. At the western end of Devon Island, the windswept Davis Strait), who sailed through it in 1585. The site of an old Beechey Island might be small, but it's steeped in history. Distant Early Warning Line installation, it's an ideal spot to go Named after famed British explorer Frederick William Beechey, ashore for a hike. As icebergs travel down the Davis Strait, it's a Canadian National Historic Site. You'll visit the small they're naturally trapped at Qikiqtarjuak (formerly known as marked graves of three crew members who died during Sir John Broughton Island), the iceberg capital of the world. The icy Franklin's tragic 1845-46 expedition. Roald Amundsen landed waters here are sometimes also home to narwhals, beluga and here in 1903, during the first successful voyage by ship through right whales, and ring and harp seals. A hike up to the hilltop the Northwest Passage. Sailing down the east coast of inukshuk (a stone figure made by the Inuit) rewards with Somerset Island, you may be fortunate to spot beluga whales spectacular views of the community. Cruising farther north along and narwhals, as they feed on the large numbers of Arctic char the east coast of Baffin Island, we'll approach Isabella Bay, an that enter Creswell Bay in late summer. An Important Bird Area, important summer and fall feeding area for a large population the bay also attracts such species as black-bellied plovers, king of bowhead whales. Stacked side by side, the dozens of soaring eiders and white-rumped sandpipers. You'll also have time to cliffs of Sam Ford Fjord make for a majestic site as you sail by. explore Fort Ross, where the Hudson's Bay Company One of the most isolated places on the planet, the big-wall established a now-abandoned trading post in 1937. At the playground attracts climbers eager to scale the sheer rock faces midpoint of the Bellot Strait, a narrow channel that separates that shoot straight out of the sea. At the northern tip of Baffin Somerset Island from mainland North America, you'll reach the Island, near the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage, is northernmost area of the continental landmass, Zenith Point. the picturesque hamlet of Pond Inlet. Spend some time Day 16 — Disembark in Resolute, Canada & fly to Toronto 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com After disembarking in Resolute, you'll be transferred to your charter flight to Toronto, where you'll spend the night at your included hotel. Day 17 — Depart Toronto Today, make your way to the airport to catch your homeward flights, or spend the day exploring this fascinating city. Please Note: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy--and excitement--of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you'll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed. 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com YOUR SHIP: ULTRAMARINE YOUR SHIP: Ultramarine VESSEL TYPE: LENGTH: PASSENGER CAPACITY: BUILT/REFURBISHED: Ultramarine is designed to go beyond the familiar in polar exploration, to discover new places, and to immerse you in the best the region has to offer. Equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, Ultramarine offers the most robust portfolio of adventure activities in the industry, the most spacious suites in its category, breathtaking public spaces, and more outdoor wildlife viewing spaces than other expedition ships its size. It also features an innovative mix of Deck, Bridge sustainability features that exceed all industry standards. Activities - Flightseeing (Included), Zodiac Cruising (Included), With all this and more, Ultramarine is set to deliver the ultimate Hiking (Included), Lectures (Included), Camping (Optional), Sea polar expedition experience.